With funding from the US State Department IDEAS Capacity Building Program for US Study Abroad, the Smith International Center has initiate linkages with agricultural institutions in Argentina and develop a new interdisciplinary faculty-led study abroad program for UT students. The course that will focus on emerging market economies, sustainable agriculture and global food security. Engaging students in a study abroad program to Argentina will expose them to many critical issues facing agriculture globally. Students in this upcoming program will be able to learn first-hand how landscape and agricultural technologies related to livestock production are affected by different policies and socio-economic conditions, and the threat posed by insect resistance to GM crops. The project team includes faculty leaders Adam Willcox (Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries), Agustin Rius (Animal Science), Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes (Entomology and Plant Pathology), Christopher Boyer (Agricultural and Resource Economics), Aaron Smith (Agricultural and Resource Economics), Ricardo Videla (UTVMC) and Program Coordinator Sara Mulville (Smith International Center).

Our first study trip to Argentina with UT students is being planned for the UT Winter 2023 mini-term and will be led by Dr. Adam Willcox and Dr. Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes. The study tour to Argentina will focus on agricultural system and natural resource management while exposing students to a variety of cultural activities. Students will learn about cooperative farming models implemented by medium-scale dairy and livestock producers, including visits to the Buenos Aires Central Cattle Market (Mercado de Liniers) to understand the beef market. Students will experience urban horticultural markets supplied by smallholder producers and will also visit the National Institute for Technological Agriculture (INTA) Delta Experimental Station, located in the Parana Delta, with expansive wetlands used for fishing and farming. The will also visit wineries in Mendoza province, where viticulture and enology experts will accompany students to the winery cooperatives of the Uco Valley. The course will include travel to Northern Patagonia to visit Nahuel Huapi National Park, the oldest national park in Argentina, co-managed with indigenous groups in the Andes foothills. On following years, the tour will focus on the Rosario agricultural hub and Buenos Aires and Cordoba pampas region and will be led by Dr. Chris Boyer (AREC), Dr. Aaron Smith (AREC) and Dr. Agustin Rius (Animal Science).

For more information about this upcoming program please contact Adam Willcox, and/or Sara Mulville.

SITE VISIT- December

The team conducted a first site visit during December 2019. The group met with scientists at the National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Buenos Aires (FAUBA), CONICET/CIVETAN Tandil, AACREA Consortium of Producers in southern region of the Province of Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, IRAC-Biogen (bovine reproductive research center), Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, and Universidad Nacional Villa Maria.

They also initiated communication with various Argentinian universities and other institutions, including INTA and FAUBA, to discuss collaboration and agreements.

Outreach and Engagement– Argentine Tango- Fall Semester

This outreach event was held in the Tyson Alumni House and showcased the arts and culture of Argentina.  We had the presence of tango professional dancers and live performances from the UT School of Music featuring internationally renowned Argentine composer Astro Piazzola.  The event was supported by the Smith Center in collaboration with the UT Center for Global Engagement and UT School of Music.   

Performers in the Domino Ensemble include; UT faculty Drs. Jorge Variego (clarinet), Jon Hamar (double bass), and Hillary Herndon (viola) and international tango dancers.